Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urges Illegal Migrants in the U.S. to Return Home | World News
The president of Colombia has urged “undocumented” Colombians residing in the United States to “return as soon as possible”.
Gustavo Petro announced that his administration would extend loans to individuals willing to accept his invitation to come back home and participate in one of its entrepreneurship programs.
“Wealth is generated solely by the working class,” the leftist leader stated on X.
“Let’s create social wealth in Colombia.”
His remarks came in the wake of a dispute with Donald Trump regarding the deportation of illegal Colombian migrants from the United States.
The newly elected US president warned of a potential trade war after Colombia declined to accept deported individuals.
Mr. Trump threatened to implement “urgent and decisive” responses, including 25% emergency tariffs on Colombian products, following Colombia’s refusal to allow two US military aircraft to land.
The migrants onboard were being deported as part of Mr. Trump’s immigration enforcement.
Later, the White House indicated that Colombia had conceded.
It was stated that the Colombian government had “agreed to all of President Trump’s stipulations,” including the “unrestricted acceptance of all illegal migrants from Colombia returning from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without restriction or delay”.
Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP
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Mr. Petro’s first reaction was defiant: “Your blockade does not intimidate me,” he posted on X, “because Colombia, aside from being a beautiful country, is the heart of the world”.
He also expressed, “I don’t particularly enjoy traveling to the US; it tends to be rather dull.”
However, a truce was achieved following concerns from investors regarding the state of Colombia’s export economy, which significantly depends on trade with the US.
Colombia accepted 475 deportation flights from the US between 2020 and 2024.
This positioned it fifth in line, trailing Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and El Salvador, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy organization that tracks flight data.
In 2024 alone, 124 deportation flights were accepted.
